Rule 19 Petition for Voluntary Relinquishment
Rule Text
(a) A petition for voluntary relinquishment of a child must be filed with the certified birth certificate of the child and the certified marriage certificate of the natural parents. If the child was born out of wedlock then the petition must so state and some identification of the natural parents will be required at the hearing on the petition.
(b) If one parent is not joined as a petitioner then a separate petition for involuntary termination of parental rights must be filed in accordance with these rules and the applicable statutes unless the child is illegitimate and the father has not asserted his paternity in which case he must merely be notified of any adoption proceedings as required by 28 D.C.R.
(c) The petition for voluntary relinquishment of a child must contain the following: the name and ages of the petitioners; names, age and race of the natural parents; the date of the child’s birth; the reasons for the relinquishment; an acknowledgement by the petitioners; and a prayer for relief.
(d) The petition must be subscribed and sworn to before a notary public.